Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs. He represents Niger-East in the upper chamber. In this interview with Group Politics Editor, Taiwo Adisa, he speaks on the difficulties of establishing the Hydro-electric Power Development Commission, the problems of insecurity and socio-economic issues. Excerpts:RECENTLY, you were named the chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs. Despite the fact that the committee has its jurisdiction recognised directly in the constitution, only a few appear to understand its duties. How do you hope to harness the functions of the committee to attain excellence'This is a very important committee but looking at it at its face value, not many people know exactly what the committee entails. The committee is like the engine room of the public service. The committee is to ensure balance, equity in distribution of positions in the civil service and in the public service generally. The committee is there to protect Nigerians generally by creating awareness in them and creating a sense of belonging. The focus of the committee would be in sections 14 (3), 14 (4) of the constitution.One important aspect of the committee's work which many people don't know is that it has a second mandate which is that, apart from making all appointments to conform with Federal Character principle, it is also to ensure that there is even distribution of social amenities, fairness, and to make sure that there is also equity. All road infrastructure and other very vital infrastructure in the country must also reflect the Federal Character.How many roads are being constructed in a particular area, how much does this cost, why is it that it is sited in a geo-political zone and it is not in other geo political zone' All these things are part of our work. We want to go to the extent of ensuring that the Federal Character Commission, which is like the main parastatal, must ensure that it implements its mandate to the letter. It must ensure that all recruitments in the Army, Police and the SSS conform to the principle of Federal Character, and that every Nigerian from any walk of life is given an opportunity. And there must also be a formula that actually recognises the diversity of this country in such a way that there must not be any predominance of a particular section of this country over the other in any position.Generally speaking, our work cuts across all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), even the private sector. It is a very demanding job and we are here to do our best to ensure that there is fairness in appointments and distribution of social amenities.There are parastatals under us that many people don't know. The National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos is one; so is the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Federal Fire Service, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the State House, office of the Vice-President, Nigerian School of International Affairs, Bureau of Public Procurement, Utility Charges Commission, National Commission for Refugees, Centre for Management Development and the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), and even the Agency for Prohibition in Trafficking in Persons.When you look at all these, you will see that we have a lot of work on our hands. We are supposed to go round the states to ensure that there are functional offices of the Federal Character Commission. We are supposed to go round the states and look at all appointments, to see whether they also reflect the state or the local government character. We will go to local governments and see the distribution of the social amenities in general. So, our work is a very big job.The Hydro-electricity Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPARDEC) Act is one of the issues you have pursued as a senator. Now that the bill has become law, why are we not hearing anything about its operations'The bill was signed into law last year, precisely on August 7, and it has been gazetted. What we are now left with is the implementation in terms of its take off. What we are trying to do is to see if we can capture it in the 2011 Budget. And we are lucky enough; we have been able to get N350 million under the Power Ministry as a take-off grant for the hydro-electricity Areas Development Commission. The commission is situated in Niger State. It is good that we have been able to fight and get this money. What we are trying to see if the host governor would go to the Presidency and ensure that this money is released and accessed, and also ask the president to put in place the management committee, having the Managing Director who will be the signatory to get this money out.We have ensured the money is captured, but it is not possible for the senators to access this money. The host governor is willing to do that, and in the past one month, he has sent a letter of reminder to Mr President to ensure that he puts in place a management team so this thing can take off and we are waiting to hear from them how far they have gone.Insecurity in the country is assuming a frightening dimension, but not much has been heard from the northern senators as a group. Incidentally, your Senatorial District is also involved, especially in Suleja area. What is happening'As a team, we are working; the bomb blasts in Suleja were actually three. I have always said the influx of people, and the road to the federal capital, have always been a problem for us in the satellite towns, particularly in Suleja, where you will see so many types of people from all walks of life. Suleja has been so over-stretched. All the facilities have been over-stretched, even in terms of accommodation; you will see four, five to 10 people in one roomwith nothing to do. There is lack of employment, no water, no light, and people just want to make it by all means. You want regular supply of power from the Power Holding company of Nigeria (PHCN); you have to find a way of getting a small generator for yourself, through legal or criminal means. This is the situation we have in Suleja. That is why bomb blasts have become a common feature.So you are not looking at the issue of insecurity yet as a group of northern senators'Very soon, we will start our meetings. You have this Boko Haram issue; we have people assembling bombs here and there, which may not be the handiwork of Boko Haram. We have serious matters of serious desertification and very soon, the whole of the Middle Belt downwards will see a lot of desertification. Most of the northerners are farmers, and many people are now thrown out of jobs because they cannot farm. The volume of water in the Lake Chad is one-third the original level; so those people who are using Lake Chad water are also going to run out of job. That is why you have a lot of crime in that area and that is what is bringing insecurity too. So we, as northern senators, will look at all these things, things peculiar to us, and see where we can come in as a common front to tackle the problems.On a personal note, how do you think the Federal Government can tackle these problems of insecurity' We have proposed a commission on desertification control, but that commission has not seen the light of the day. It is supposed to protect the environment of the Niger Delta. You cannot farm in the Niger Delta because of so many things arising out of exploitation and exploration of oil and also gas flaring. So, you need to ensure that you fight environmental degradation, ensure they have farmlands in these areas, particularly in the Niger Delta.This requires that we tackle environmental degradation. All our livestock have now been destroyed by the type of weather that is actually taking toll on the Niger Delta. Looking at the oil companies, if they are able to address their own social responsibilities, things will be better. But unfortunately, they are behaving like a government unto themselves and since 1989, we have been promising that we are going to achieve a complete flare down of gas. Up till now, we keep on shifting the date and the government does not have the infrastructure to use the excess gas you have. But from this gas flaring, we are losing about six billion naira daily.So, there is no way agriculture would strive. The government should do everything possible to ensure that we achieve a complete flare down of gas. In fact, for the air pollution arising from gas, Nigerians is contributing about 13 per cent of the pollution in the whole world. So you see, fish, livestock will not survive, even drinking water will be polluted. So, in those areas, there is no way security will be achieved where the people feel that they have lost everything; they are hopeless. In the end, the oil in Niger Delta is like a curse to the people. If you go to the far North, the same problem you have. So, the moment you have this commission in place, you will be able to produce shelter and see the irrigation facility you will be able to produce for the people to continue with their dry season farming.
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